Castle Pines Newcomers Guide

Planning a move to the Denver area? Many people do each year, drawn by all that the Mile High City and its surroundings have to offer. You’ll enjoy a rich sense of history in one of the country’s most forward-thinking states. There’s a strong and diversified economic base with good jobs in growth industries such as communications, aerospace, technology and healthcare. You can’t beat metropolitan Denver for leisure pursuits, either. Shopping, entertainment, nightlife and professional sports are all here in abundance. And if you’re into the great outdoors, you’ll never find a greater one than Colorado. If you’re looking for a new hometown that’s close to big city amenities but with plenty of wide open spaces, take a look at Castle Pines. It’s one of Colorado’s newest incorporated cities with a friendly, small town ambience, good schools, beautiful scenic vistas and a business-friendly attitude, just 20 miles south of downtown Denver. Our newcomer’s guide will give you a good overview and point you in the right direction toward a home in Castle Pines.

Castle Pines History – It’s Short!

The City of Castle Pines was incorporated in 2008. At the time, it was the first new Douglas County city since 1995 and the state’s first since 2004. The original charter covered about 9.55 square miles in Douglas County. In 2009, another 3,342 acres was added, extending the municipal boundaries east of I-25, north to the Reuter-Hess Reservoir, east to Castle Park Ranches and south to Crowfoot Valley Road. The city operates under an elected Mayor/City Council form of government. In 2011, the city initiated a Business District Visioning Project to revitalize the business district. The Castle Pines vision statement promotes a business-friendly tax and regulatory environment: “When you dream of Colorado, wake up in Castle Pines, the city with a unique business commons. A vibrant people-friendly gathering place with a blend of public spaces, special events, and retail serving the daily needs of the local and regional community.”1

Relocating to Castle Pines

Castle Pines offers the best of both worlds. This little city of about 10,000 residents lies within the Front Range Urban Corridor and is part of the greater Denver metropolitan area. Live here and you’re within minutes of Denver amenities and services. But you’re also far enough away to have a genuine sense of living the Colorado lifestyle complete with spectacular mountain views, blue skies and wide open spaces. At 6,368 feet above sea level, it is literally a breathtaking experience! Castle Pines gets high marks compared to many Colorado state averages, according to CityData.com. It boasts a significantly higher median household income, significantly lower unemployment rate, significantly higher percentage of owner-occupied residences and a significantly higher percentage of residents with bachelor or higher degrees. It adds up to an affluent, involved and educated population. AreaVibes.com calls Castle Pines “Exceptionally Livable” and gives it a livability score of 80, noting its low crime rate, high income per capita, and stable housing market as key factors in the quality of life.2

Castle Pines Real Estate – New Construction Happening Now

With an owner-occupancy rate of 83.2% according to USACityFacts.com, finding a rental in Castle Pines is a challenge. And, since people tend to love the lifestyle here, finding a resale home can be even harder and fairly pricey. The median home cost in Castle Pines is around $800,300 and appreciation has been hovering around 4.78% over the past year.3 There is good news, however, if you’re looking for new homes in Castle Pines. New Castle Pines homes by award-winning Denver homebuilder Taylor Morrison are now selling at Castle Pines Village, an established master-planned community. There are 52 home sites available in this new gated community. One- and two-story homes range from 2,732 to 3,893 square feet with optional finished basements. Floor plans are available with three to five bedrooms, dens and three-car garages. The community is located between two top-ranked golf courses. Residents will enjoy a variety of amenities including a clubhouse with Olympic pool, four tennis courts, ball fields and courts, a fitness club with lap pool , hot tub, and weight rooms and a playground area. There are also 11 miles of trails winding throughout the community. You can contact Taylor Morrison Internet Home Consultant Becky Hunt for more information or to schedule a viewing appointment. Call 720-245-3916 or send an email request to bhunt@taylormorrison.com. You can also join the interest list to receive email updates about the community.

Castle Pines Economy

As already mentioned, Castle Pines is a business-friendly city that welcomes small businesses and entrepreneurs. Although it is a small city, Castle Pines has a big-picture attitude toward economic development, taking a proactive approach to attract viable development opportunities, recruit sustainable businesses and assist companies to locate in the area. Employment and industry mirror that of the rest of the greater Denver metro area. Professional, scientific and technical services account for 31% of jobs; finance and insurance, 19%; retail trades, 9%. The remainder is in manufacturing, healthcare, mining, transportation and warehousing. With Denver just 20 miles away, residents also have the option of commuting or telecommuting to employment centers. Major employers in Denver include IBM, Ball, UPS, DISH Network, United Airlines, Wells Fargo, Lockheed Martin and Comcast, as well as government and education.

Castle Pines Schools

Castle Pines is part of the Douglas County School District, Colorado’s third largest, serving 61,000 students at over 70 campuses. DCSD is reinventing American education, teaching 21st century skills and ensuring that families can select the best learning environment for each student.

For higher education, Castle Pines residents have their choice of seven campuses within 25 miles. These include University of Phoenix in Lone Tree, Arapahoe Community College, University of Denver, University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Community College of Denver and Red Rocks Community College.

Castle Pines Living

One of the primary attractions of the Colorado lifestyle is amazing variety of outdoor activities. When you call Castle Pines home, you’re close to some of the best winter and summer ski resorts, hiking, nature trails, hunting, fishing, boating, horseback riding, golf and tennis. Sports fans have their choice of NFL Broncos, MBL Rockies, NHL Avalanche and NBA Nuggets – and those are just the pro teams. You’re also within easy driving distance of Denver’s restaurant scene, nightlife, museums and cultural attractions, live theater and annual events such as the world-famous National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. Closer to Castle Pines, you can enjoy local attractions including:

Elk Ridge Park

Daniels Park

Chatfield State Park and Lake

Castlewood Canyon State Park

Roxborough State Park

Major medical facilities within 10 miles of Castle Pines include:

Sky Ridge Medical Center

Centura Health-Littleton Adventist Hospital

Parker Adventist Hospital

Make Yourself at Home in Castle Pines

For more information about new homes in Castle Pines, New Denver homes and Denver real estate, or to schedule a personal viewing appointment at a Taylor Morrison community in the Denver area, contact Internet Home Consultant Becky Hunt at 303-656-7692 or send an email request.